Vacuum trash collector

ABSTRACT

A trash collector mountable on a cart. The collector comprises a pivoted cylindrical bin having a hinged lid surmounted by a vacuum blower. A flexible hose of inverted U shape has a nozzle at its outer end, the inner end entering tangentially into the lid. The hose is supported by a leaf spring pivoted at its inner end, the nozzle being controlled by a handle through a telescoping connection.

United States Patent 1191 Hollowell [54] VACUUM TRASH COLLECTOR [76]Inventor: John R. Hollowell, 3 567 Greenfield,

Dearborn, Mich. 48126 [22] Filed: June 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No: 152,223

[52] US. Cl. ..l5/340, 15/323, 15/352,

[51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..15/327 D, 327 R, 340,352,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,266 10/1942 Smellie..l5/350 X 2,887,714 5/1959 Hanson ..l5/340 3,063,082 11/1963Rosenberg... 15/353 X 3,150,404 9/1964 Johnson .15/314 X Jan. 16, 19733,550,181 12/1970 DOlall et al. ..1s 3s3 x FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 623,871 1/1936 Germany ..15/314 686,519 1/1940 Germany..15/314 Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Assistant Examiner-C. K.Moore Att0rney.l. King Harness et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A trash collector mountable on a cart. The collectorcomprises a pivoted cylindrical bin having a hinged lid surmounted by avacuum blower. A flexible hose of inverted U shape has a nozzle at itsouter end, the inner end entering tangentially into the lid. The hose issupported by a leaf spring pivoted at its inner end, the nozzle beingcontrolled by 1 a handle throughv a telescoping connection.

22 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I 3.710.412 SHEET 1 org PAIENIEDJAM 16 I975angry;

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to trash pickup devices, and more particularly to mobile unitsof a vacuum type for collecting debris such as leaves or sweepings overa wide area, or along a roadway.

2. Description of the Prior Art No prior patent is known which has thefeatures of the present invention. Sedgwick et al. US. Pat. No.2,878,508 shows a trash and litter collecting apparatus on a trailertype vehicle. Other examples of devices in the same general category arethe following US. Pat. Nos.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The vacuum trash collector of thisinvention comprises a rigid U-shaped member easily mountable on a mobilecart by a slip-on tube. A cylindrical collecting bin is pivoted to themember as is a swingable lid which supports a vacuum blower. Aperforated bowl-shaped inlet baffle is. secured to the blower shaft andis disposed within the lid. A flexible hose extends up wardly andoutwardly from the lid and then downwardly to a nozzle, the operatorsitting beneath the hose. The nozzle is controlled by a handle through atelescoping connection connected to a midportion of the hose support.

The hose is supported by a flexible spring, the inner end of which ispivotally mounted for transverse rocking movement on the lid support. Acounterbalance spring for the lid permits it to be lifted along with theblower.

The nozzle has a guard spacing it from theground and so shaped as to beof assistance in loosening debris. The material drawn throughthe tubeenters the lid in tangential fashion and is thrown to the outside of thebin where it will collect. The bin is tiltable to different positionsfor emptying or placing a bag liner therein if desired. The bin may alsobe provided with a bag holding bracket.

The construction is such that the nozzle is infinitely adjustable overwide areas both from side to side and from front to rear, and is movablevery easily since the entire tube and nozzle are supported by the leafspring. The tube may be replaced easily by a pair of clamps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT The vacuum trash collector is generally indicated at 11 andis adapted to be mounted on a vehicle such as a cart generally indicatedat 12 which is partially shown 7 in FIG. 1. The cart may be any oneofvarious types for movement along roadways or on other terrain to collect debris such as leaves or roadside trash. The vehicle has wheels 13,and operators seat 14 and a vertical post shown partially at 15 behindseat 14 on which unit 11 is supported. Forward movement of vehicle 12 isto the right in FIG. 1. a

Unit 11 comprises a vertical socket 16 mountable on post 15 and aU-shaped member 17 secured to and extending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom socket l6. Socket 16 and said U-shaped member together comprise aframe. A circular clamp 18 is pivoted at 19 to the arms of member 17 andsupports a bin 21. This bin is of cylindrical or barrel shape having aclosed bottom 22 and an open top. As shown, the bin is lined with aplastic bag 23 having a rigid liner 24 therewithin, the liner having aninwardly extending upper rim 25. This bag and liner construction is morefully described in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 150,367, filedJune 7, I971. For the purposes of this invention, however, bin 21 couldbe used without a bag 23 or liner 24.

Bin 21 is tiltable on pivot 19 between various positions. The solidlines in FIG. 1 show the bin in its collection position, the dot-dashlines show it in a position for placing liner 24 and bag 23 therein andthe double dotdash lines show it in a position to be emptied. A holder26 is shown on the bin for storing and dispensingadditional bags 23. v

A bracket 27 is secured to socket 1'6 and a lid 28 for bin 21 is pivotedat 29 to bracket 27 by means of an extension 31. Lid 28 is securable tothe upper rim of bin 21 by clamps 32. When so connected, bin 21 isinclined slightly forwardly from the vertical as seen in FIG. 1. The lidis so shaped, however, that its top 33 (FIG. 2) is horizontal to supporta vacuum blower 34. This blower has a downwardly extending shaft 35passing through a central aperture 36 in lid top 33. An impeller 37 ismounted on shaft 35 and draws air upwardly. A guard 38 surroundsimpeller 37 and has an annular flat portion 39 partially overlappingopening 36. The opening 40 in portion 39 forms the inlet of theimpeller.

A baffle 41 is secured to the lower end of shaft 35 below opening 36.Baffle 41 is of perforated dished shape, its upper edge 42 being closelyadjacent the outer edge of aperture 36 so that the baffle overlaps inlet40 of the impeller. The baffle will rotate with the vacuum blower sothat any trash, leaves or other debris which come in contact with thebaffle will be thrown off by centrifugal force and thus prevented fromclogging the blower.

Lid 28 forms a plenum chamber into which the air and debris are drawnthrough a flexible hose43. One end of this hose enters an inlet 44 oflid 28 tangentially so that the air will be swirled around within thelid with the debris being thrown out: by centrifugal force and droppinginto bin 21.

Hose 43 arches above seat 14, thus leaving room for an operator to sit,and then extends downwardly to its outer end 45. A nozzle146 is securedto the outer end 45 of hose 43. The means for securing hose 43 to inlet44. and nozzle 46 comprises a pair of band clamps47 merely by unscrewingthe clamps.

A nozzle guard generally indicated at 49 is secured to nozzle 46 by aplurality of clips 51 (FIG. 3). This guard is a shaped rod having alower rearward leg 52 and a higher forward leg 53. The central portionsof these two legs are adapted to engage the ground so as to maintain themouth of nozzle 46 spaced therefrom and insure that air will always flowinto the hose. The narrow ground-engaging portions of legs 52 and 53 maybe maneuvered to scrape and loosen debris which is wet or stuck to theground.

The means for supporting hose 43 and nozzle 46 comprises a leaf springassembly generally indicated at 54 in FIG. 1. This assembly comprisesthree leaf springs of progressively shorter length, the longest leaf 55being adjacent the hose. This leaf and intermediate leaf I 56 havecoaxial pivots 57 and 58 respectively on a bracket 59 secured to theunderside of inlet 44. U- shaped brackets 61 and 62 spaced along theleaf spring assembly partially surround and support hose 43. Atelescoping nozzle support generally indicated at 63 extends betweenbracket 61 and the nozzle. This support comprises an upper rod 64pivoted at 65 to bracket 61, and a lower rod 66 pivoted at 67 by aforked lower end 68 to nozzle 46. A handle 69 is secured to a lower rod66 by a bracket 71 and extends at right angles thereto. Thus, theoperator may grasp handle 69 and maneuver nozzle 46 by lifting orlowering the nozzle, moving it forward or backwards, or swinging it fromside to side. All of these movements will be permitted by thecombination of inner pivot 57, 58, leaf spring 54, telescoping support63 and the flexibility of the hose itself. Thus, a very wide area ofmaneuverability is afforded by the device with the operator sitting inone position. Substantially, the entire weight of the hose, nozzle andtelescoping support will be carried by leaf spring assembly 54 so thatthe effort of the operator can be devoted entirely to maneuvering ratherthan supporting the device.

A detent leaf spring 72 is secured at one end 73 to socket 16, thespring being of angled construction so as to hold bin 21 in its dot-dashline position when desired. Further counterclockwise movement of the binwill carry it past spring 72 to the discharge position shown in doubledot-dash lines.

In operation, the operator shown in dot-dash lines at 74 will be seatedon seat 14 of the cart which may be propelled and steered by anyconventional means (not shown). The operator will grasp handle69, and,with the vehicle moving forwardly (to the right in FIG. 1) and blower 34operating, will direct nozzle 46 toward the leaves or other debris.These will be loosened by guard 49 and drawn upwardly through tube 43into the plenum chamber formed by lid 28. By centrifugal force thedebris will be thrown outwardly against the inner surface of the lid andwill drop into bin 21. If liner 24 is present, its lip 25 will help toretain the debris in the bin. Baffle 41 will stop any debris tending toenter the blower and will throw it outwardly by centrifugal force sothat it will drop into the bin.

During operation, the operator may direct nozzle 46 either alongside orin front of car 12. When it is desired to empty the bin, clamps 32 willbe released and lid 28 along with blower 34 swung upwardly. For thispurpose a counterbalance spring 75 may be provided on pivot 29, thisspring having one end engaging bracket 27 and with a bag 23, such a bagmay be withdrawn from container 26 and torn off a roll or otherwiseremoved, and then placed in bin 21 along with a liner 24 if this isbeing used. The bin would then be swung back to its solid line positionand lid 28 reclamped thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum trash collector for mounting on a vehicle, a framesecurable to the vehicle, a bin supported by said frame for movementbetween an upper trash receiving position and a lower emptying position,a lid for said bin, a vacuum blower mounted on said lid, means mountingsaid lid on said frame for movement between a first position attached tosaid bin and a second position retracted therefrom so that the bin maybe moved to its emptying position, a flexible hose having an inner endleading into said lid which acts as a plenum chamber and an outer endcarrying a nozzle, and means accessible to an operator for maneuveringsaid nozzle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said bin being barrel-shaped,said bin supporting means comprising a pivotal connection to said frame.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said bin being of cylindricalshape and inclined when in its receiving position, said lid being offrustoconical shape whereby its top is horizontal when it is secured tothe bin, said vacuum blower being mounted on the top of said lid.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said blower having a shaftextendingdownwardly into the plenum chamber formed by said lid, and aperforated baffle for said blower secured to the shaft below the blowerand rotatable therewith, whereby the debris collecting on said bafflewill be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

5. The combination according to claim 4, said baffle being of dishedconstruction, the top of said lid having an air opening for said blower,the outer edge of said baffle being adjacent said opening.

6. The combination according to claim 1, said blower being mounted ontop of said lid and having an impeller, an opening in said lid top forthe passage of air and a perforated baffle rotatable with said impellerand having an outer edge adjacent said opening, whereby debriscollecting on said baffle will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

7. The combination according to claim 1, said lid being pivotallymounted on said frame, and a counterbalance spring urging said lidtoward its retracted position.

8. The combination according to claim 1, said means for supporting theflexible hose comprising a leaf spring holding a central portion of thehose above an operators head, whereby the outer hose portion descends infront of the operator.

9. The combination according to claim 8, the inner end of said leafspring being pivotally mounted, whereby said flexible hose may be swungfrom side to side.

10. The combination according to claim 9, said leaf spring pivotalmounting being on said lid, the lid being pivotally mounted to saidframe and counterbalanced toward its retracted position.

1 l. The combination according to claim 1, said flexible hose beingresiliently supported so that its central portion is above the operatorand the hose descends in front of the operator, and a control rod havinga handle and connected to said nozzle.

12. The combination according to claim 11, said resilient hosesupporting means comprising a leaf spring extending under the hose, aplurality of U- shaped brackets for the hose carried by said leafspring, said control rod being telescoping with its upper end secured toone of said brackets and its lower end to the nozzle.

13. The combination according to claim 1, said nozzle being furtherprovided with a guard comprising shaped front and rear feet, these feetbeing secured to and extending downwardly from the nozzle to hold saidnozzle off the ground, the feet having relatively narrow ground-engagingintermediate portions for loosening debris.

14. The combination according to claim 13, an intermediate portion ofsaid flexible hose being supported above the operators head, and atelescoping control rod pivotally connected at one end to said flexiblehose support above the operator and at the other end to said nozzle,said telescoping rod having a handle for operator control.

15. The combination according to claim 14, said hose support comprisinga leaf spring pivotally connected at its inner end to said lid forsideways swinging movement, and a pivotal connection for said lid onsaid frame for retracting movement away from said bin.

16. The combination according to claim 1, said frame including avertical socket for securing said frame on a post mounted on thevehicle.

17. The combination according to claim 16, said frame further comprisinga U-shaped member to which said bin is pivotally supported.

18. The combination according to claim 1, said bin being furtherprovided-with a plastic bag, and a rigid tubular liner within said bag.

19. In a mobile vacuum trash collector, a frame, a

inner end to permit sideways rocking movement thereof.

20. In a mobile vacuum trash collector, a frame, a bin swingably mountedon said frame for movement between receiving and discharging positions,alid for said bin, means pivoting said lid to said frame on a horizontalaxis so that the lid is retractable from the bin to permit swingingmovement thereof, the lid forming a plenum chamber above the bin, a hoseinlet for said lid, a flexible hose extending from said inlet and havinga nozzle at its outer end, means for controlling the posi tion of saidnozzle, and a leaf spring supporting an intermediate portion of saidhose and pivoted to said lid on an angle transverse to the lid pivot.

21. in a mobile vacuum trash collector, a frame, a bin movably mountedon said frame for movement between receiving and emptying positions, alid, means movably mounting said lid on said frame whereby the lid isretractable from said bin to permit movement thereof to its emptyingposition, a flexible hose extending from said lid and having a nozzle atits outer end, means resiliently supporting an intermediate portion ofsaid hose above the operator, and a telescoping connection between saidintermediate portion of the hose and said nozzle, said telescopingconnection being pivoted at its opposite ends to the hose support andnozzle respectively and having a handle'at an intermediate portionthereof.

22. The combination according to claim 1, further provided withresilient means carried by said frame and supporting said hose, saidmeans for'maneuvering the nozzle comprising a rod having one end securedto the nozzle, said rod carrying a handle accessible to an operatorseated on the vehicle.

1. In a vacuum trash collector for mounting on a vehicle, a framesecurable to the vehicle, a bin supported by said frame for movementbetween an upper trash receiving position and a lower emptying position,a lid for said bin, a vacuum blower mounted on said lid, means mountingsaid lid on said frame for movement between a first position attached tosaid bin and a second position retracted therefrom so that the bin maybe moved to its emptying position, a flexible hose having an inner endleading into said lid which acts as a plenum chamber and an outer endcarrying a nozzle, and means accessible to an operator for maneuveringsaid nozzle.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, said bin beingbarrel-shaped, said bin supporting means comprising a pivotal connectionto said frame.
 3. The combination according to claim 1, said bin beingof cylindrical shape and inclined when in its receiving position, saidlid being of frustoconical shape whereby its top is horizontal when itis secured to the bin, said vacuum blower being mounted on the top ofsaid lid.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, said blower having ashaft extending downwardly into the plenum chamber formed by said lid,and a perforated baffle for said blower secured to the shaft below theblower and rotatable therewith, whereby the debris collecting on saidbaffle will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.
 5. The combinationaccording to claim 4, said baffle being of dished construction, the topof said lid having an air opening for said blower, the outer edge ofsaid baffle being adjacent said opening.
 6. The combination according toclaim 1, said blower being mounted on top of said lid and having animpeller, an opening in said lid top for the passage of air and aperforated baffle rotatable with said impeller and having an outer edgeadjacent said opening, whereby debris collecting on said baffle will bethrown outwardly by centrifugal force.
 7. The combination according toclaim 1, said lid being pivotally mounted on said frame, and acounterbalance spring urging said lid toward its retracted position. 8.The combination according to claim 1, said means for supporting theflexible hose comprising a leaf spring holding a central portion of thehose above an operator''s head, whereby the outer hose portion descendsin front of the operator.
 9. The combination according to claim 8, theinner end of said leaf spring being pivotally mounted, whereby saidflexible hose may be swung from side to side.
 10. The combinationaccording to claim 9, said leaf spring pivotal mounting being on saidlid, the lid being pivotally mounted to said frame and counterbalancedtoward its retracted position.
 11. The combination according to claim 1,said flexible hose being resiliently supported so that its centralportion is above the operator and the hose descends in front of theoperator, and a control rod having a handle and connected to saidnozzle.
 12. The combination according to claim 11, said resilient hosesupporting means comprising a leaf spring extending under the hose, aplurality of U-shaped brackets for the hose carried by said leaf spring,said control rod being telescoping with its upper end secured to one ofsaid brackets and its lower end to the nozzle.
 13. The combinationaccording to claim 1, said nozzle being further provided with a guardcomprising shaped front and rear feet, these feet being secured to andextending downwardly from the nozzle to hold said nozzle off the ground,the feet having relatively narrow ground-engaging intermediate portionsfor loosening debris.
 14. The combination according to claim 13, anintermediate portion of said flexible hose being supported above theoperator''s head, and a telescoping control rod pivotally connected atone end to said flexible hose support above the operator and at theother end to said nozzle, said telescoping rod having a handle foroperator control.
 15. The combination according to claim 14, said hosesupport comprising a leaf spring pivotally connected at its inner end tosaid lid for sideways swinging movement, and a pivotal connection forsaid lid on said frame for retracting movement away from said bin. 16.The combination according to claim 1, said frame including a verticalsocket for securing said frame on a post mounted on the vehicle.
 17. Thecombination according to claim 16, said frame further comprising aU-shaped member to which said bin is pivotally supported.
 18. Thecombination according to claim 1, said bin being further provided with aplastic bag, and a rigid tubular liner within said bag.
 19. In a mobilevacuum trash collector, a frame, a trash collecting bin movably mountedon said frame, a vacuum blower mounted above said bin, a flexible hosehaving its inner end leading to said bin and its outer end carrying anozzle, operator-controlled means For positioning said nozzle, and aleaf spring for supporting an intermediate portion of said hose abovethe operators head, said leaf spring being pivotally mounted at itsinner end to permit sideways rocking movement thereof.
 20. In a mobilevacuum trash collector, a frame, a bin swingably mounted on said framefor movement between receiving and discharging positions, a lid for saidbin, means pivoting said lid to said frame on a horizontal axis so thatthe lid is retractable from the bin to permit swinging movement thereof,the lid forming a plenum chamber above the bin, a hose inlet for saidlid, a flexible hose extending from said inlet and having a nozzle atits outer end, means for controlling the position of said nozzle, and aleaf spring supporting an intermediate portion of said hose and pivotedto said lid on an angle transverse to the lid pivot.
 21. In a mobilevacuum trash collector, a frame, a bin movably mounted on said frame formovement between receiving and emptying positions, a lid, means movablymounting said lid on said frame whereby the lid is retractable from saidbin to permit movement thereof to its emptying position, a flexible hoseextending from said lid and having a nozzle at its outer end, meansresiliently supporting an intermediate portion of said hose above theoperator, and a telescoping connection between said intermediate portionof the hose and said nozzle, said telescoping connection being pivotedat its opposite ends to the hose support and nozzle respectively andhaving a handle at an intermediate portion thereof.
 22. The combinationaccording to claim 1, further provided with resilient means carried bysaid frame and supporting said hose, said means for maneuvering thenozzle comprising a rod having one end secured to the nozzle, said rodcarrying a handle accessible to an operator seated on the vehicle.